HS FOOT: Van Nuys hopes to continue turnaround

Van Nuys went 2-8 last season under first-year coach Sean Pollard - an improvement from 0-10 in 2008 - and the Wolves continue to get better with returning All-East Valley receiver/cornerback Ernesto De La Paz and promising quarterback Iehanni Obinna.

De La Paz is a dynamic leader - "He could sell a ketchup popsicle to someone who's wearing a white mink coat," Pollard said - and Obinna helped lead the JV team to a league title last year after arriving from Taft of Woodland Hills.

"With our skill guys, if Obinna develops we should be pretty good," Pollard said. "I think we can go .500 or try to make the playoffs. That's what we're shooting for, and we've done pretty well in passing league."

-- Gerry Gittelson